As the trio had gotten ready and came downstairs, they were filled with much more energy than the previous day.
Especially the two girls seeing them having regained a bit of vitality on their face, it made them seem a lot less haggard. However, Kaya was still looking terribly thin. Luckily Celia had some extra clothes for the kids as that helped them get out of their rags but it showed that they weren't made for their size specifically as it was much baggier than expected.
Having returned downstairs, they saw that lunch hour was approaching as many people were coming in and others who had slept in were making their way down.
The Inn catered to many travelers on a daily basis so aside from a select few who were staying longer, it was usually new faces.
"Celia, You got the Ice hooved Roe's core? I'm gonna go shopping with the girls for some clothes and then go do the test for the Storm tribe." Penta immediately explained his plans for the day and asked if she needed anything
"Aren't you quick to spoil the little one's" Celia pretended to pout while handing over a small ice blue colored beast crystal.
"Haha, you jealous?" Penta said playfully.
"You wish mister barbarian." Celia retorted.
"Anyways thanks Celia! See you in the afternoon and wish us luck." Penta said as he grabbed the girls and set off.
Celia looking at his back as he went off started remembering her time at the Storm Tribe and couldn't help but sigh. The real reason for her departure was really much closer to her father's explanation than the runaround she gave to Penta but mainly it was because she was weak and she couldn't help but sigh again at the thought.
Who doesn't have ambitions? It was a fact that, especially in this sort of world, power meant a lot.
After bringing the girls along to the Merchant's Hall, he met up with Ther and had a little chat as he sold his ice hooved roe's crystal. Surprisingly it came out to 80 Iron Ony's so he repaid Ther the missing 25 and he was left with a nice sum of 55 Iron Ony's.
Penta and the two girls showed up at the shopping district and started looking around for different clothes for the girls. The girls were being quite shy at first considering the expensive-looking clothes but Penta didn't care for it and immediately told the clerk that he wanted all the nicest clothes that suited their size and taste. The clerk was suddenly very happy as this type of man were their favorites, a big spender.
Penta was very happy he had the skills after coming here to at least make a living but he knew his journey was far from the beginning. Only after getting into the tribe could he really start his cultivation journey. If anything Old'Ban simply helped him get a good foundation with Nature's Evolution.
I have to help the man out with his request so Storm Tribe should have information on where Old'Ban's tribe was located at least.
After the girls got their measurements done, the clerk had found a total of 30 different items that suited each of them giving them a vast collection of clothes and the price was extremely reasonable coming to a total of 19 Iron Ony's as Penta stopped the clerk at some point when he realized he would have to carry all this. He tipped her an extra Iron Ony for the assistance, which immediately gave him bonus points with the middle-aged store lady.
After having gotten both girls changed into a light blue dress and cherry blossom pink dresses with Kaya sporting the blue one and little Sana the pink one, with undergarments and everything. He requested the rest be sent back to the inn they were staying at for a small fee which was covered within the tip.
The girls looked a lot better as though they came from nobler backgrounds but Kaya was rather thin for her age but Penta didn't bother too much considering she would be eating much, much more with him around.
"Let's grab some snacks on the way to the testing site." Penta smiled as he picked both girls up with both in each arm. He noticed Kaya looking quite tired and so didn't bother with her furtive complaints. He simply carried Sana on his head with her legs over his shoulders while Kaya was sitting on his shoulder with one of his arms helping her stay seated. Sana was much happier at the turn of events compared to a tomato red Kaya.
On their way to the testing site, Penta had bought some meat buns from a food stall for the girls and himself and continued on their way. The buns were heavenly during the afternoon as shopping had drained all three of them quite a bit as they weren't very used to such a gun-ho saleslady.
Though they were getting stares from some people, other people's kids had been quite dramatic at wanting the same treatment from their parents causing some headaches. Kaya and Sana secretly enjoyed the feeling of being envied when passing by kids their age who immediately requested a ride from their fathers, brothers, or mothers.
Penta eventually started noticing a large gathering taking place close to the center of the City. He knew this must be the place as the City Lord's Palace wasn't far off from the location.
"Alright you two, stay close to me so we can queue up for the test. Kaya will go first and then it will be me. Once done, we'll go get some more meat buns!" Penta said as he brought the girls down.
He knew there would be someone from the storm tribe here so he was excited already. His tone of voice wasn't hard to decipher.
Kaya seemed a little nervous at the thought but Penta gently rubbed her head which calmed her down. She knew this man for less than two days and already she couldn't help but feel attached after having been alone with her sister.
As they neared they noticed a lineup and immediately got in. Between them, more people coming to register, many children and young adults. The whole venue was packed with people talking about who was going to be selected and what not.
Penta looked ahead and saw that there was a platform with two people in luxurious looking robes that seemed. One was a gentle-looking young lady while the other was a middle-aged man who seemed to be meditating.
The young lady was administering the test while the older man seemed to just be the guard or elder that was present to bring them back.
The test itself was quite simple. They just had to advance to the platform and place their hand on an orb that was on a small podium that was engraved with many symbols and lines giving off a magical sight.
There were quite a few people ahead of them but you could see the young lady shaking her head and rarely would she hand out something to a few participants after they had performed their test. It seemed to look like a small card and the different facial expressions from those who got them and those who didn't were like day and night.
"Oh look little peter got a card, it seems he had some talent in him after all!" A young man at the side of the crowd made a remark to the most recent addition to the storm tribe test.
"Haha, yeah but look at the color of the card. It's just a bronze card. His talent must have been enough to just pass this round." A middle-aged man who seemed to know more commented as well after.
"Oh? What's the difference in the card colors then?"
"Well, the different colors represent the ranking of apprenticeship. Bronze is for low talent, who have to go through another test to join. Iron is for middle-tier talent who have a different test that's much laxer to join the tribe and finally black color, which skips all tests and might even get you a direct relationship with an elder interested in nurturing you. Though the city has never seen a black card in years." The middle-aged man said after some thought.
Penta overheard the talk and it resembled the description he got from Celia so he wasn't too worried. He had high confidence in getting in since he was already an advanced apprentice in terms of pure strength and that's a rare sight already but he was curious as to his affinities.
As the line was getting shorter and shorter. Penta noticed that Kaya was starting to fidget more and more.
"Something wrong little Kaya?" He asked gently.
"N-no, I'm fine. I just d-don't want to disappoint honorable brother if I d-don't get in..." She said in a slightly shaky voice.
"Hahaha, that's what you're worried about?" Penta patted her head again and bent down a little so that they were at eye level.
"It doesn't matter whether you get accepted or not, I will make sure you guys are taken care of regardless. Do you think I'm such a bad person? Anyways, I'm guaranteed to get in so don't worry so much."
She heard him and couldn't help but ease-up a little as her biggest worry was getting thrown away for being useless.
"Not bad! Bwutha good person." Sana interjected as well when she heard the question.
"Now Kaya, take a deep breath and go on. Regardless of the result, we will be okay." Penta reassured again.
"Thank you, brother," Kaya said with a small smile, which Penta saw and couldn't help but rub her head again while mumbling "too cute."
However, as they were talking to each other the young man in front of Kaya looked at Penta up and down before snorting in contempt.
"Bah, you look old enough to be my uncle. No one's guaranteed a spot. Especially someone like as old as you. Pffft." said the young man in front.
Penta couldn't help but look over with his eyes narrowed with a wry smile and a bulging vein at the comment.
'Old? ME!? Does this idiot have a death wish from me? A one-year-old!?' His mind was fuming but his face wasn't too distorted at the comment.
"Y-you don't know our honorable brother! He will definitely get in!" Surprisingly it was Kaya who stood out to protect him. Penta felt touched and the little Sana was backing her sister up as well. Tears almost streamed down his face but he composed himself.
Looking over at the kid that looked to be around 14 or 15, he had blonde hair and seemed to have a slightly haughty attitude. Looking at his attire, he clearly came from a wealthy family. Penta wasn't going to start much trouble right now but if the kid got accepted as well. He was definitely going to show him his "gentle" side at the tribe.
"Haha, don't worry about it you two. He can believe whatever he wants. You just watch and see brat." Penta said while smiling at his sisters standing in front of him blocking the other guy and Penta from having a confrontation.
When suddenly, a melodious voice came from the platform. "Next"
'What a sweet voice' Penta thought as he lifted his head and finally got to see the girl who was conducting the testing. He was surprised. Blue hair, large blue eyes, and a gentle face with pretty pink lips. She was wearing a little makeup but her face and looks made you think of the girl next door with an exotic twist due to the hair color. She was wearing a light green robe and it curved around her body just nicely and he couldn't help but give a look twice over.
'Well proportioned indeed.' He thought.
Looking as the haughty noble kid was going up, he started blushing at the girl on the podium before she asked him to place his hand on the orb on the podium. The orb flashed and with the symbols lighting up, the gentle-looking girl smiled and handed him an iron card. It seemed he had mid-tier affinity talent.
The boy smiled and spoke for a few moments before coming down the platform while smugly looking at the trio that was standing before him before looking away as though they were insignificant.
He still stayed on the side a little further away as he was also curious at this guy who was so confident.
"Next"
Kaya started making her way up and as she turned around once more, she saw her honorable brother and her little sister giving her a thumbs up with a smile. She had gained renewed confidence and continued towards the girl. Even Kaya thought this girl seemed nice as she had such a gentle-looking face and demeanor.
"Place your hand on the orb and try and concentrate on clearing your mind." The girl said.
"O-Okay!" Kaya replied while stretching her hand out and taking a deep breath before placing her hand on the orb.
The orb stood silent for a few seconds before the symbols on it started shining and the light from the orb shined.
The girl looked at the orb and the symbols that were shining before smiling. She took a bronze card out of somewhere and inscribed a few things on them and passed them over to Kaya who was shocked at receiving the bronze card.
On it was written Nature affinity - 69% - High low-tier talent- Meet here when the card shines in three days.
Kaya shocked at it smiled widely before thanking the gentle sister and running back to Penta and Sana with slight tears in her eyes at being accepted and even though she had low tier affinity, it was still in the upper bracket.
Penta smiled and picked little Kaya up in the air and simply said "Congratulations!" with a huge smile.